Chapter Sixteen:

A/N: Warning: Karrde is not in "canon-accepted" character in this chapter, so if you don't like his attitude, oh well, it's all drama for my AU story…

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Leia had her head on Han's shoulder, so she missed it when Luke caught his eye and mouthed a silent question. At Han's infinitesimal nod, Luke smiled and strode to the band, where he put in a request to the band leader.

"Could you play an Alderaanian Waltz classic, please?" he said so the man could hear.

"Of course, Master Skywalker."

"Thank you."

Luke walked back to his sister and Han, and tapped them on the shoulder. Leia glanced at him in surprise as he cleared his throat.

"May I have this dance?" Luke bowed properly, and then offered Leia his hand.

"What?" Leia asked softly.

"I would love it if you would dance with me, Sister." Luke reiterated. "Please?"

"But…" Leia bit her lip as Luke's request began. "Since when do you dance?"

"Since he's been taking lessons from a certain female friend of his." Han answered, nudging Leia toward her brother. "Go on, let him take you around, show you what he can do now."

Before Leia could protest, Han disappeared from the dance floor to find a position in the crowd. Leia realized that she and Luke now had an audience.

"Oh dear." She murmured.

"Come on, Leia, I won't bite… very hard." Luke winked, still offering his arm.

"Alright." Leia returned the bow with a curtsey.

She took his hand and he gently tugged her into start position. He counted the beat in his head for a second, and then led Leia around the floor. He kept his eyes fastened on hers as they waltzed about the area, ignoring the many onlookers.

It wasn't long before other couples braved the dance floor to waltz as well, but it was Leia's warm, if somewhat surprised smile that captivated her brother.

Leia laughed at the familiar tune she's learned to dance to when growing up with Bail and Breha Organa. She felt Luke's silent question and she lifted a brow, but nodded, trusting his lead.

Luke upped the ante a little by adding much gusto to their steps, and soon the pair of them were flying. Leia couldn't help the giddy smile that swept her away with the music and the love of her brother.

Nor did she want to stop it. She was so surprised, and so happy that when the song ended, she felt her happiness drop several notches.

Luke brought them to a halt, stepped back and bowed again, breathing hard.

Leia engulfed him in an embrace. "Oh Luke, that was wonderful! You learned the Alderaanian Waltz just for me?"

"That particular dance, yes." Luke replied, steadying his breathing with help from the Force. "Sorry, I'm not used to taking the waltz that fast." He added with a shaky laugh.

"But it was such fun!" Leia kissed his cheek. "Thank you Luke."

"Of course, I just wanted you to see that I can dance when I put my mind to it." Luke winked at her.

"Or when Mara beats it into you." Leia joked, eliciting a laugh from Luke.

Luke gave Leia one more kiss on the cheek, and then let her return to her evening. He found Mara back at their table, and she gave him a thumbs-up, making him smile.

"That was great, Skywalker." She complimented. "I could feel her smile from here."

"Would you like to dance as well?" Luke asked hopefully.

Mara eyed him. "Aren't you tired from your previous boogie?"

"I can rest after the ball." Luke said with a shake of his head. "I'd really love to take you around the dance floor, Mara."

Mara opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by someone calling her name.

"Mara!"

She turned to see Karrde walking her way, a strange look on his face. Mara braced herself for the inevitable, feeling Luke's sense of bewilderment at her reaction.

"Hello Karrde." Mara said softly.

"It's good to see you tonight, Mara." Karrde said, glancing at Luke. "And the same to you, Luke."

"Thank you." Luke returned with a polite smile.

Karrde turned his attention back to Mara.

"May I ask what happened to the gown I selected for you?"

Mara felt a flash of annoyance. "I changed my mind about wearing it. This one suits me much better."

"But, my dear, there was a reason I asked you to wear it." Talon told her, somehow looking both apologetic and annoyed. "It was actually selected by a prospective business partner I was planning to have you meet tonight."

Mara froze. "Excuse me?"

"Yes, they were quite insistent that they select a gown for you, as a token of friendship." Talon explained.

Mara glared. "And you're just telling me this?"

"Well, frankly, I had hoped not to have to tell you." Karrde admitted.

"Is that so?" Mara said through clenched teeth.

"Mara, if I had told you the dress was selected by a stranger, would you have agreed to wear it?" Talon demanded.

"No." Mara admitted.

"Exactly. So I told you I chose it." Talon rubbed his brow. "I don't think they will take too kindly to your rejection."

Luke stepped up as Mara opened her mouth to snap off a retort. He was finally starting to piece together Mara's strange behavior regarding the ball from the last week. And if he was guessing correctly, this was one of the thorns in Mara's side at the moment.

"I'm afraid that the dress is my doing, Talon." He said in a tone warning the smuggler to back down. "I insisted she wear it this evening."

Talon offered him a cool glance. "And since when do you choose evening wear for my second-in-command?"

Luke surprised Mara by allowing a flash of indignation cross his face, and he was suddenly nose to nose with her employer.

"And since when do you dictate how Mara lives her life, Talon?" he challenged dangerously.

Mara placed a worried hand on Luke's arm. "Skywalker, don't do anything stupid." She hissed.

Luke glanced at her, mouth open, but snapped it shut and nodded, stepping away from her employer.

Mara turned to Karrde. "Look, I'm sorry if I ruined a chance at business." Her tone turned icy for a moment, and she had to fight hard to keep her voice even. "But if you had simply told me the truth, I would have accepted it… eventually. Have I ever not done as you asked me?"

Talon had the decency to look ashamed. "No."

Mara pitted him with a harsh stare. "Then why wouldn't you allow me the truth in this?"

"I was afraid you'd say no." he said softly.

At that her temper flared, Mara's self-control shattering with it. "Well, I'm saying no now!" she snapped.

She stormed from the room without another word, her mind and vision clouded red by fury. She walked several meters from the main chamber before she attempted to sooth her frayed nerves.

Mara turned a blind corner and found herself in a darkened alcove. She stopped at the dead end, and pounded a fist against the wall, feeling her knuckles bruise.

"Mara!"

She stiffened as Skywalker's voice followed her, and he nearly missed her, skidding to a halt just after her chosen hiding spot. He peeked back around the corner, saw her and tentatively approached.

"Mara, are you alright?" he asked gently.

"NO! I am NOT alright!" she almost screamed, shaking.

Luke stopped, but did not take offense to her outburst. He instead gestured invitingly.

"Mara, please, talk to me!" he offered. "I am right here, and I will listen to whatever you say without judgment."

Mara trembled and turned away, resting her head against the wall. She could no longer hold back her tears.

"Alright, I'll talk." She whispered.

"Hold on." Luke took Mara's hand and led her from the alcove.

Mara was about to question his actions when she noticed they were not the only ones in the corridor. Couples were coming and going from the party, and whenever someone glanced their way, Mara felt Luke use the Force to conceal their identities.

Luke found a small room with a lock on the door, and led her inside.

"Okay, we're alone." Luke murmured to her after he'd locked the door.

He turned to see her sitting on the edge of a desk, still weeping. She was obviously trying to rein in her emotions to their normal deadpan setting. Luke shook his head.

"No, Mara. Don't bottle this all up." Luke seized her hands. "Let it go, say whatever you need to say. Yell, scream, curse at me, whatever it takes."

Mara pulled away and clenched her hands into tight fists.

"All my life I have been told what to do: stand here, wave to this dignitary, and be available to please this man, whatever. I hate these balls, because if I go, I only go for business. It was only better in the Empire because I had no choice then." Mara's voice was low and hoarse. "Now, with Karrde, he at least asked me first, but my life is still being dictated!"

She shot to her feet, and began pacing.

"Did you know that I have yet to choose even my own kriffing dress?" she ranted. "Each different ball is still the same party for me. I am always told what to wear." Mara pounded an angry fist on the wall, facing away from him.

"I hate these parties!" she whispered, and Luke detected a hitch in her voice. "I really do, Luke. I am never allowed to simply come as Mara Jade the woman, and I never truly enjoy myself. I have to force myself to come each time, telling my reflection that it's good business, and that I have a job to do. And I always do my job… it's how I was raised, whether I like it or not."

"I never get to be myself." She snorted sarcastically. "Well, at least Talon hasn't asked me to sleep with a potential client."

"What?" Luke interrupted.

Mara finally looked at him. "It's nothing." She muttered.

"It's not nothing." Luke insisted. "Mara, who wanted you to…" he stopped as the glow-lamp clicked on.

"You guessed it." Mara sneered. "Palpatine used me as eye candy. If I wasn't there as the assassin, I was there as the perspective concubine."

Luke had to work at quelling another stab of anger, reminding himself that the monster was dead.

"I'm sorry Mara." he said quietly.

"Why are you sorry?" Mara snorted. "None of this is your doing."

Luke stepped forward. "Actually, some of it is."

At her confused look, he indicated her dress.

"Oh, yeah." She murmured.

"I'm sorry for… dictating one more thing for you." Luke apologized, looking away. "I had no idea."

Mara turned his face back to her with one soft hand. "Don't you dare apologize for making my day, Farmboy."

He cocked his head.

"This gown… and the fire-lilies," Mara blinked at more tears. "Luke… that was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me." She stepped away, looking out a small window at the Coruscant night. "You may never know how special this week was for me."

Luke started to speak, but she went on.

"For the first time ever, someone was interested in what I wanted, what I liked." Mara hugged her arms about her waist in a rare display of vulnerability. "And I will never be able to repay your… kindness. I'm sorry I've been abrasive of late, it's just all of this has been eating away at me."

Luke stepped forward. "I don't expect repayment, that's not why I asked you to teach me. But if that's what you're thinking, you did pay me back in dance lessons."

Mara turned her head slightly and gazed at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Why did you ask me?"

Luke swallowed nervously. "Because I wanted to spend time with you."

"And why would you want that?"

"Why wouldn't I?" he inquired. "I love being with you."

Mara turned her head back around. "I don't know what to say to that."

"You don't have to say anything." Luke assured her. "I just want you to be happy."

When he tried to take another step, Mara held up a hand, halting his progress. He saw her shoulder's shake, and she lifted her head just so. He ached to hold her, to take away her pain, but he would never force her to accept his help.

So it came as a relief when she abruptly turned, as if hearing his thoughts, and rushed to him. She flung her arms around him, and sobbed in mighty heaves. Luke wrapped her into his loving embrace without hesitation, holding her close.

He buried his face in her hair, reveling in her scent. He loved this woman so much!

Mara stiffened, standing back with such force he lost his balance for a second.

"Y… you what?" she stammered, her eyes wide with fear.

"You heard that thought?" he asked.

At her nod, Luke firmed his lips, but stepped forward again.

"It's true, Mara. I do love you." he declared boldly. "I love you so much it hurts. I love being around you, and when we were dancing together, or sparring: hell even when we were cooking together. Mara that was the best week of my life!"

Mara stepped away from him, her hand to her mouth, and she shook her head.

"Y… you can't love me Luke."

"Why not?" he demanded.

"Because I don't deserve it!" she hollered.

"How can you not deserve to be loved?" Luke contended incredulously.

"Look at all I've done!" Mara snapped. "I am not love material Luke! I am incapable of such emotion!"

"I refuse to believe that, Mara." Luke insisted.

"Then you are a fool, Skywalker." Mara grated.

"And how many times do I have to tell you that your past has been more than paid for?" Luke pressed on, ignoring her jibe for the time being. "You need to let it go."

Mara looked away, and Luke realized something else.

"But that's not the real issue here, is it?" he fished for a reaction. "You made peace with your past long ago. Something else is holding you back."

"I…" Mara slumped into a chair. "I'm not worthy, I don't deserve it."

"You already said that."

"There are much prettier women out there," she began.

"What!" Luke sputtered almost exasperatedly.

"… many of whom would gladly welcome you into their lives." Mara went on over him.

"STOP!" Luke shouted, earning himself a glare.

Mara shot to her feet, hot tears flowing against her will. "Now you know the truth, why I won't be with you, even though I lov…"

She broke off, wide-eyed, and suddenly bolted for the door. Luke made to grab her arm, not wanting to let her go like this, but she turned on him furiously.

"Don't touch me!" she warned, producing her hold-out blaster form who-knew where.

Luke froze, looking over the sights of the weapon at her. "Mara…"

"Don't move!" she backed toward the door and fumbled for the lock.

As soon as it released, Mara dashed from the room at full speed, ignoring Luke's crest-fallen features.